From Insider
December 3, 2005
By Ron Felix
In case you missed it, the NASCAR Nextel Cup Awards ceremony was held in New York City on Friday night. The 3 hour, 48 minute show, hosted by comedian Jay Mohr, was at times boring, humorous, touching and tribute-filled.
CIA Stock Photo Stewart Points To His Crew In Balcony
After some fantastic graphics and great highlights of the season, Mohr kicked things off with jokes that passed over the heads of most of those in attendance. Mohr drew a few scattered laughs when he chided NASCAR for changing rules too often and questioned whether Ryan Newman realized which day at the track was the most important, the day before the race or the day of the race.
Mohr laced his odd comedic style with a few attempted sex related comments and the crowd sat in silence, several times, choosing to let Mohr hang himself with his own rope.
In Mohr's defense, he did get it later in the evening but still wasn't sure how to talk to a NASCAR group. His brand of humor mainly left the crowd with an uneasy feeling.
There were the usual awards and tributes to drivers, car owners, crew chiefs, company owners, engine builders, sponsors, crewmen, old timers, newcomers and shop janitors.
Retiring driver, NASCAR icon and 1989 Winston Cup Champion Rusty Wallace, fought back tears as he tried in vain to get through the night without getting emotional. Giving one of the better speeches of the evening, Wallace was nearly overwhelmed at the conclusion of the monologue when everyone in the building gave him a rousing, standing ovation. As the show signed off, he was seen wiping his eyes with the tablecloth.
Teammate Ryan Newman even mentioned in his speech that he does respect Rusty Wallace -- as a driver. He left it at that.
Despite some rumors that said he wouldn't attend the banquet, Kurt Busch, in and out of trouble for much of his seven years with Jack Roush, delivered a robotic diatribe that appeared to be written by Roger Penske himself. It sounded more like a public relations piece although he did thank Roush for hiring him. What else would Penske have him say?
While the show was going on, the fans had an opportunity to vote online, for the "Most Memorable Moment of 2005". The results came back and it was announced that Tony Stewart's victory at the Brickyard 400 in August was the most memorable.
Jeff Gordon, who finished eleventh in the points this year and received a big check for his effort, wasn't in attendance. He was in Paris, France preparing to run the "Race of Champions". A race that drivers from all forms of racing -- from around the world -- want to be in. Gordon was ill in 2004 and missed the race. Casey Mears filled in for him in the Paris event.
This year Gordon taped a segment to thank the usual suspects but not until comedian Will Ferrell presented himself as Gordon. It was all a joke and Ferrell accepted the eleventh place award for Gordon.
NBC news anchor, Brian Williams, thanked NASCAR and paid a tribute to the sanctioning body for twenty-five years of holding the awards ceremony in New York City. Photo images and video clips were shown covering those years.
The money in NASCAR gets better and better.
NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Champion Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet, collected $6,173,633 in point fund awards – a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series point fund award record – along with special awards totaling $517,000. The post-season payouts bring his 2005 season total to $13,578,168, the largest single-season total in NASCAR history. Stewart’s take exceeds the previous single-season record, $10,979,757, set by Jeff Gordon, driver of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet, in 2001.
That total for Stewart averaged out to $357,320.00 per race (38) including the two non-points races, the Budweiser Shootout and Nextel's All-Star race. It's not a bad deal if you can get it.
Stewart’s career winnings now total $48,467,449, making him the fifth-highest money winner on NASCAR’s all-time list.
In summary: Tony Stewart thoroughly enjoyed this experience. He attended the banquet in 2002, when he won his first title but you couldn't have paid him enough to have enjoyed it. It's much better the second time around for Stewart and for his team.
On a musical note: Singers Gavin DeGraw and Toni Braxton performed their hit tunes. DeGraw sang "Follow Through" while Braxton crooned "I Want To Be".
And some of you think they need a Union? PSHAW
December 3, 2005
By Ron Felix
In case you missed it, the NASCAR Nextel Cup Awards ceremony was held in New York City on Friday night. The 3 hour, 48 minute show, hosted by comedian Jay Mohr, was at times boring, humorous, touching and tribute-filled.
CIA Stock Photo Stewart Points To His Crew In Balcony
After some fantastic graphics and great highlights of the season, Mohr kicked things off with jokes that passed over the heads of most of those in attendance. Mohr drew a few scattered laughs when he chided NASCAR for changing rules too often and questioned whether Ryan Newman realized which day at the track was the most important, the day before the race or the day of the race.
Mohr laced his odd comedic style with a few attempted sex related comments and the crowd sat in silence, several times, choosing to let Mohr hang himself with his own rope.
In Mohr's defense, he did get it later in the evening but still wasn't sure how to talk to a NASCAR group. His brand of humor mainly left the crowd with an uneasy feeling.
There were the usual awards and tributes to drivers, car owners, crew chiefs, company owners, engine builders, sponsors, crewmen, old timers, newcomers and shop janitors.
Retiring driver, NASCAR icon and 1989 Winston Cup Champion Rusty Wallace, fought back tears as he tried in vain to get through the night without getting emotional. Giving one of the better speeches of the evening, Wallace was nearly overwhelmed at the conclusion of the monologue when everyone in the building gave him a rousing, standing ovation. As the show signed off, he was seen wiping his eyes with the tablecloth.
Teammate Ryan Newman even mentioned in his speech that he does respect Rusty Wallace -- as a driver. He left it at that.
Despite some rumors that said he wouldn't attend the banquet, Kurt Busch, in and out of trouble for much of his seven years with Jack Roush, delivered a robotic diatribe that appeared to be written by Roger Penske himself. It sounded more like a public relations piece although he did thank Roush for hiring him. What else would Penske have him say?
While the show was going on, the fans had an opportunity to vote online, for the "Most Memorable Moment of 2005". The results came back and it was announced that Tony Stewart's victory at the Brickyard 400 in August was the most memorable.
Jeff Gordon, who finished eleventh in the points this year and received a big check for his effort, wasn't in attendance. He was in Paris, France preparing to run the "Race of Champions". A race that drivers from all forms of racing -- from around the world -- want to be in. Gordon was ill in 2004 and missed the race. Casey Mears filled in for him in the Paris event.
This year Gordon taped a segment to thank the usual suspects but not until comedian Will Ferrell presented himself as Gordon. It was all a joke and Ferrell accepted the eleventh place award for Gordon.
NBC news anchor, Brian Williams, thanked NASCAR and paid a tribute to the sanctioning body for twenty-five years of holding the awards ceremony in New York City. Photo images and video clips were shown covering those years.
The money in NASCAR gets better and better.
NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Champion Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet, collected $6,173,633 in point fund awards – a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series point fund award record – along with special awards totaling $517,000. The post-season payouts bring his 2005 season total to $13,578,168, the largest single-season total in NASCAR history. Stewart’s take exceeds the previous single-season record, $10,979,757, set by Jeff Gordon, driver of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet, in 2001.
That total for Stewart averaged out to $357,320.00 per race (38) including the two non-points races, the Budweiser Shootout and Nextel's All-Star race. It's not a bad deal if you can get it.
Stewart’s career winnings now total $48,467,449, making him the fifth-highest money winner on NASCAR’s all-time list.
In summary: Tony Stewart thoroughly enjoyed this experience. He attended the banquet in 2002, when he won his first title but you couldn't have paid him enough to have enjoyed it. It's much better the second time around for Stewart and for his team.
On a musical note: Singers Gavin DeGraw and Toni Braxton performed their hit tunes. DeGraw sang "Follow Through" while Braxton crooned "I Want To Be".
And some of you think they need a Union? PSHAW
